(Virtual) Blarney Castle and Gardens and Kissing the Blarney Stone

The Blarney Castle...finally!

https://youtu.be/vcjMxxUc17c

A tour of the castle and the grounds.

And the most exceptional site I found where you can do a virtual walking tour of the castle and all the gardens...including The Poison Garden!

http://blarneycastle.ie/

A garden set off to itself and filled with deadly poisonous plants that were used by maesters for both medicinal and nefarious purposes, back in the castle's past.

Every plant in this garden is deadly poison.

The grounds also offer the stone grotto tours, numerous flower and herb gardens and of course the World Famous Blarney Stone

A kiss much easier these days...after climbing to the tower's top and holding onto iron bars while kissing the stone.

A feat much more difficult in olden times when the kisser was actually dangled over the edge of the wall to do the kissing.


The legend being that those who kiss the Blarney Stone are bestowed the gift of Persuasion and Eloquence.

(This might actually explain a few men I dated through the years...just saying)

And for those who want more the online gift shop sells piece of Blarney Stone (although not pieces of THE Blarney Stone) from Ireland...which is basically carboniferous limestone from the local quarry.

I found a small silver Celtic Cross pendant to purchase there.

All and all a wonderful adventure!

Soon: Mutton Stew and Soda Bread (and recipes)